Every year, over 200 new research studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, literature reviews, and case reports are published in the scientific literature on myofascial pain and dry needling. For the clinician, these many papers make it nearly impossible to keep up with the literature. 

In this brief review, Jan Dommerholt will explore the most pertinent recent literature on myofascial pain and dry needling. The review will include studies on the mechanisms of myofascial pain, clinical applications, and new uses of dry needling, for example, for neurologic conditions (i.e., spasticity), performance enhancement, scar tissue and fascial adhesions, and tendinopathies. 

Dr. Jan Dommerholt, PT, DPT, President/CEO of Myopain Seminars presents a literature review on "What’s New in the Dry Needling Literature"

What to expect: 

Objectives: 

By the end of this lecture participants will be able to:

• Describe five systematic reviews and meta-analyses of dry needling.


• Describe whether myofascial pain should be considered a nociceptive, nociplastic, or neuropathic pain syndrome.


• Describe three potential effects of dry needling in the management of headaches.


• Describe the impact of dry needling on motor endplate function.


• Describe the use of dry needling in the management of temporomandibular disorders

About the Speaker

Jan Dommerholt, PT, DPT, President/CEO of Myopain Seminars

Dr. Jan Dommerholt is co-founder and president/CEO of Myopain Seminars. His early career mentors included Drs. Janet Travell, David Simons, Robert Gerwin, Richard S. Materson, Karel Lewit, and Peter Baldry, among others. Together with Robert Gerwin, Jan started teaching dry needling courses in 1996, first in Spain and from 1997 onwards also in the USA. Jan is a Dutch-trained physical therapist who holds a Master of Professional Studies degree with a concentration in both Biomechanical Trauma and Healthcare Administration from Lynn University, and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Dr. Dommerholt has taught hundreds of courses and lectured at over 80 conferences throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East while maintaining an active clinical practice. He is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, Cuestiones de Fisioterapia, and the Journal of Invasive Therapies in Physical Therapy. Jan is an Honorary Member of the Iranian Physiotherapy Association and of the Polish Association of Invasive Physiotherapy. In 2016, he received the Janet G. Travell Excellence in Education Award from the National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists. The American Physical Therapy Association recognized his achievements by awarding him the 2014 Henry O. and Florence P. Kendall Practice Award.

Dr. Dommerholt has edited several books on myofascial pain, dry needling, and manual physical therapy, authored about 80 book chapters, and more than 140 articles on dry needling, myofascial pain, external-focus exercise, fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, and performing arts physical therapy. From 2004 through 2021, he prepared a quarterly literature review column on myofascial pain initially with Dr. David Simons for the Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain followed by the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies with a variety of co-authors. He is president/CEO of Bethesda Physiocare® in Bethesda, MD (www.bethesdaphysiocare.com).

This program was originally recorded January 12, 2024.

You can even earn 1 hour of CE:  

1. Purchase the recording by visiting IPTA's Virtual Library . (FREE FOR IPTA MEMBERS / CE Subscribers - log in to ipta.org so it knows who you are!) Non-member cost is $35. You can earn 1-2 hours of CE, depending on the length of program.


2. Once your transaction is completed, you will receive an email with a link to download a document containing a link to the online recording AND a link to a quiz to complete after you view the recording.


3. Watch the recording and complete the quiz. If you score 80% or better, you will receive an email notification of your CE award.  If you are an IPTA member/ CE Subscriber, your CE award will also post in your membership profile under Professional Development. If you are not yet a member, an CE certificate will be emailed to you within 7-10 business days.